Conduit-receptacle.



UNITED STATES ra nnr 01m ns.

JAMES S. STEWART, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ANNIE STEWART, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

coNnUrnnEcEP-TAoLE.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, JAMES S. STEWART, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, in the county ofNew York and State of New York,.have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conduit-Receptacles,-of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to receptacles and appliances particularly for use in conduit wiring, although the present invention is ap plicable to use in sign receptacles and other relations.

In some aspects the present invention is an improvement on the construction shown in my November 13, 1907.

Conduits are now extensively used in buildin s for incasing all the electric lightwires, this system givmg the maximum pos sible protection both a ainst fire and injury to the wires. The conduit pipes run in short straight lengths between what are known as outlet boxes which are virtually enlargements in the conduit at which the circuit wires are accessible. These outlet boxes may be used as locations for lamp receptacles or rosettes, or they may merely serve as pull boxes for stretching or pulling the circuit wires through the conduit pipes. Inmost cases the boxes are normally used to receive lamp sockets or receptacles, but. are emloyed as pull boxes as occasion requires. r f the box receives a lamp re eptacle-or rosette, it is obviously desirable to have the connection made as securely or firmly as possible, and with the minimum amount of tapping and drilling and machine work. It is also important to have the receptacle take up as little room as possible in the outlet box in order that there may be space enough left for the various loops and connection wires which have to be packed away in these outlet boxes. I

In carrying out the present invention, I provide a fOIITk'Of receptacle or appliance which is applicable for use with the ordinary outlet box and which secures the abovementioned characteristics. For this purpose, I make use of a special retaining plate or device which is applied on the outside of the usual or other cover of the outlet box. In this way, the receptacle is firmly :indiored in place without any tapping or drilling or specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 7, 1998. Serial No. 19,78.

prior application- No. 401,982, filed j Patented March 9, 1909.

machine work whatever. At the same time the maxlmum amount of space is left within the box for making the connections and stor- ,set forth andclaimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view artly invertical section of a lamp receptac ea 3-- plied to an outlet box and embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same with the shade removed.

teferring to the drawings in which like parts are designated by the same reference sign, 1 indicates an outlet box of the usual or any approved construction.

2 designates an insulating body which may be a receptacle, rosette or other appliance which I form of integral porcelain, and

having ac-ircumi'erential.rib or bead 3, extending equatorially thereabout for the whole or 'a'portion of the complete circumfereucc.- The interior construction of the receptacle may be of any desired sort, having terminal wires l, issuingat the bottom surface for establishing the necessary circuit connections.

designates a cover plate which may be the usual cover plate. ofthe outlet box and designed to be held thereto by screws 6, which enter the lugs 7, forming part of the outlet box.

8 designates a retaining plate or device forming part of the. present invention, and which fits over the cover plate 5, being of a size substantially corresponding thereto.

- In practice, I make the plate 8 of comparatively thin metal circumferentially beaded at 9, to stiffen it and give it a more ornamental appearance.

10 designates a centrally projecting shell or extension forming part of the plate or retaining device 9-, being stamped or drawn therefrom in an ordinary manner which will be well understood by those skilled in. the art. The shell 10 constitutes a sleeve surrounding the body 2 and has an enlargement 11 adapted to fit over the rib or bead 3 thereof. At some point (not shown) on its periphery, this enlargement 11 is embossed inward so as to form a projection cooperating with the notch 3 in the body of the receptacle, so as to prevent rotation.

12 designates a rib or head forming part of the shell or sleeve 10 and spaced apart" from the enlargement 11 a sufiicient distance to establish a groove 13 therebetween. The groove 13 is adapted to serve in lieu of the usual groove which is molded in or made integral with forms of porcelain receptacles adapted to receive a shadeholder 14. It isadvantageous to do away with this direct groove in the porcelain which is a diflicult and expensive construction.

The use and operation will-be sufiiciently understood from the preceding description. The outlet box 1 is always-available to serve its ordinary functions as a pull box. When it is desired to apply a receptacle or similar appliance, of the form constituting my present invention, it is merely necessary to insert the latter through the usual or other cover plate 5 and then apply the retaining device 8 which fits over the rib 3 and firmly anchors the receptacle in place. This'retaining device has holes or slots 15, through which the usual screws 6 of the outlet box may be passed. The receptacle is now complete for use, being firmly anchored in place without any tapping or drilling or machine work having been performed. There is sufficient room left within the out; let box for any wires or loops or extensions, and all of the electrified parts are inclosed in a vitreous housing which separates them from the metal of the outlet box. The shadeholder 14 is applied in the groove 13 in exactly the same way that shadeholders of this type are ordinarily applied to an integrally formed groove of the porcelain,

' as above described.

What I claim, is

1. In combination with an outlet box having a perforated cover plate, a body received through said perforated cover plate, and freely removable means adapted to be fastened on the outside of the cover plate for anchoring saidbody in place.

2. In combination with an outlet box having a perforated cover plate,fastening means therefor, a body having a complete vitreous housing received through said perforated cover; plate, and freely removable means adapted to be fastened on the outside of the cover plate for anchoring said body in place and secured thereon by said fastening means for the cover plate.

3. In combination with an outlet box having a perforated cover plate, a receptacle having a complete vitreous housing received through said perforated cover plate, and freely removable means adapted to be fastened on the outside of the cover plate for anchoring said receptacles in place.

4. In an electrical appliance, an outlet box having a cover plate with a hole, a porcelain body received in said hole and having an equatorial rib, and a retaining device having a shell or sleeve extension adapted to surround said body and having an enlargement cooperating with said plate to inclose said rib. i y

5. In an electrical appliance, an outletbox having interior lugs and having a cover with a hole, a body received in said hole and adapted to sur round said body, said exten-- sion having an enlargement cooperating with said plate to inclose said rib.

7. In combination with an outlet box having a perforated cover plate, a body having a complete vitreous housing received through said perforated cover plate, and means fastened on the outside'of the cover plate by the usual fastening screws for securing said body in place.

8. In an electrical appliance, a body hav ing an equatorial rib, and a retaining de vice having a sleeve or extension with an enlargement adapted to surround said rib, and a circumferential bead, said enlargement and bead establishing a groove thercbetween to receive a shadeholder.

9. In an electrical appliance, a plate having a hole, a body received in said hole and having an equatorial rib, and a retaining device having a shell or sleeve extension adapt ed tosurround said body and having an enlargement cooperating with said plate to in case said rib, said extension also having an equatorial bead spaced apart from said enlargement to establish a groove therebetween to receive a shadeholder.

10. In combination with an outlet box, a pair of centrally perforated plates together constituting a cover for the box, and a body having a rib received between said plates, and extending through. the perforations thereof.

, 11. In combination with an outlet box. a pair of perforated plates larger than the outlet box and constituting a cover therefor,

and a receptacle having an equator received betweenisaid plates, and extending outlet'box, said' TateSjb'ein'g" seemed tofsgr d through the perf0ratibns.; thr'e0f into said outletbox.

12. In combination with pair. of perforated .pla'tes larger; than ithe outlet box and constitutinga cover n1em 1- W itnesseszl and a receptacie 'Ving'; a'nequatqrial .-11b FRANK SJQBER,

dplate'srhnd extending 1 v WALDO Mwfinamx.

received between sal 

